The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-04-07

mother Of the cub, ready for q spring.
She was hardly three PAGES away. With
out seconds delay Weston stepped
from the branch he was standing on to
one which brought him with the trunk
Of the tree between him and the old
panther. lie was just i'll time, for at
that instant the mother Of the cub lcaped
on the spot he had left, and stood gaz-
ing with fiery eyes on the hunter, who.
with one arm Claspcd around q branch,
held in his right hand his bare knife, as
with every breath lie drew he expected
to see the cnrNgcd animal spring down
upon him. Standing thus forty feet
above the ground, with only the trcach-
crOus footing Of limb few inches
thick, Weston knew that he was lost I'M
less by tact and skill he was able TO
gradually make his way back 10 the foot
of the tree without irritating the fierce
beast into prcCtpitating an attack upon
him. Fortunately, The cub Icft its place
higher up and lCNpcd down to the branch
on which lis mother stood gNring at
Weston, who was almost near enough to
her to feel her hot breath. This move
mcnt OF the cub : distracted The attention
Of the old panther, and Weston, sheath.
ing his knife in his belt. dropped to a
lower limb. The panther noticed the
movement, and sprang TO the limb be
low where she stood, and prevented
Weston from rClrcatimg further.
The dogs all this time were crazy with
excitement at the foot Of the tree and
gnawCd at the trunk and tore up the
ground in their frantic anxiety TO yet at
the game so far above their reach Yves.
ton seeing that his retreat was cut of,
and not daring lU risk Il struggle with
the panther where the slightest misstcp
would dash him hCAllOHw 10 drNth re-
turned to his old position in the tree
and the panther followed him. Keep
ing, by great effort, his body covered
by the trunk of tho tree. Weston climbed
stlll higher, hoping to reach a strong
crCCpcr that extended irom the uppcr
part of the oak t. Il tree a few feet
away, believing that he might let him
self by his hNndS along the vine to the
other tree, hy which he could easily
reach the ground. The rr"rpcr wos
strongly fastened ON the oak, and he
supposed it was as secure as the other
Tree. weston got rs far N3 the crCcncr
without the panther showing any dis
position TO follow him, but he had lust
selHod 1T and was trying his weight care
1ully on 1t, Keeping his eyes on the ami
maj below, when the mother OF the cub
seemed to be moved with renewed fury.
Tor she sprang to q branch above, and SO
made her way to the outer edge Of the
branches, toward the top Of the tree,
evidently intending to head the hunter
OF, and spring down upon him. Weston
saw what she was intending to do, and
nc knew the struggle, which could have
but ono result, was inevitable unless he
could reach the thick branches Of the
ncighbOring tree by means Of the con.
Meeting vine by the time the panther
reached her vantage ground above him.
lie graspcd the crccpcr and swung him.
self off of the branch. The vine gave
way at its fastcnings on the other tree,
and Weston, keeping his hold was
swung back into the oak and brought
down to the very branch on which the
panthcrs cub was crouching Instant.
ly, with yell that rcsounded through
the woods far above the turmoil Of the
dogs below, the mother panther came
bounding down from the top of the tree
to the protection OF her young. Weston
knew there was no escape now unless
desperate plan that rushed through his
mind should succeed in giving n new
urn to the pcrilous situation Drawing
his knife from his belt, he plunged it in
to the whining cub ut his feet, and at the
same time kicked it loose from the limb.